S25/26 | The Official Match Thread | Middlesbrough 1 Swansea 0 | Att: 26,035 (Away 685) | 3pm | Saturday 9th August 2026

[Blackpooljack]

We have only dropped one place since yesterday

With Sheff Utd's spanking we've moved back up the one place

 

[Londonlisa2001]

I’m honestly not sure about that. I get his points tally was fantastic, I’d never dispute that and I actually was happy he got it after helping us stay up.

Having said that, if we had a style of play that we wanted to go for then we should have gotten rid of him regardless in my opinion, as going purely off of today, he doesn’t have one (which we already sort of knew). Fans wouldn’t have liked it initially, but they would have gotten over it.

Still plenty of time, hope we made the right decision

Put it this way, he wouldn’t have been my choice, not least because he was part of the coaching team for Williams. But his results meant it would be have been so difficult to bring someone in. Any loss early doors and there would have been howls from fans. In many ways, he did better than probably anyone would have hoped. Enough to keep us up but not go on the run we did would have been better in many ways.

We all hope that everything works well and we have a great season. To be honest, 8 think that goes without saying whatever our thought on aspects of what is going on.

 

[sit_down_jack]

Yes we were nowhere that bad last season, why's he changed to that shite?

Well, we did play longer balls away from home last year but there was more fluidity and less speculative long balls being played. I think Burgess being in there makes a difference, he’s not a ball player like Darling was, it’ll mean that he’s more inclined to just lump it at times.

I’m not condemning anything yet as we’ve got more players to come in and we saw better performances last season under Sheehan. SU losing badly doesn’t harm our chances of picking something up next weekend.

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

I’m honestly not sure about that. I get his points tally was fantastic, I’d never dispute that and I actually was happy he got it after helping us stay up.

Having said that, if we had a style of play that we wanted to go for then we should have gotten rid of him regardless in my opinion, as going purely off of today, he doesn’t have one (which we already sort of knew). Fans wouldn’t have liked it initially, but they would have gotten over it.

Still plenty of time, hope we made the right decision

The trouble is, parking concerns about style for a second, as a club what do you do?

The previous three managers all had their own way of doing things, but the common ground they all shared was that they were very good at not winning many games of football.

In comes Sheehan and starts getting results. Regularly.

We had to give the job to him. He earned it. And he's probably earned the right to be given time at it and all, as long as he keeps getting results.

 

[gerwyn.evans]

We saw no attacking performance today. Get it right.

Semantics but ok we saw no attacking performance today

 

[gerwyn.evans]

Semantics but ok we saw no attacking performance today

Still doesn’t answer the question of what you expected today?

 

[gerwyn.evans]

Yes that's right, except they won less than half their home games last season and lost 6 at home.

Ok so they weren’t amazing but weren’t terrible. Still not ripping up the form book to think that they could beat a team they finished above last season at home?

 

[Blackpooljack]

Like I said before, Boro away is a tough fixture to introduce a new player, let alone to a new league. So Widell’s non selection is not a reflection on him but the situation i.e. a tough first away game, unless we want to start speculating that it’s for some other reason? Pre season has been poor no doubt but it has been disrupted by injury (surprised Cabango played today for one thing) and a non complete squad. What did you expect today? I would have snapped your hand off if you offered me a 0-0 before the game.

Yes but after the game we all realised how poor Boro are

 

[monmouth]

Let’s stop being over analytical. That was simply shit. End of.

If Sheehan wants the the job. Do better.

 

[cadleigh]

With Sheff Utd's spanking we've moved back up the one place

Phew! Sheehan is safe for another week!

 

[cadleigh]

I know this is off topic, but can anyone tell me when I get to be a named player? Is it 500 posts? And do I get a say in who that is? I would love to be Tony Millington. Or Wilf Milne.

 

[cmajack]

Still doesn’t answer the question of what you expected today?

A better performance with more attacking intent and maybe a positive result. Bet Millwall fans weren't expecting 3 points at Norwich today, or Bristol at Sheffield United. It's amazing what you can achieve with a bit of positivity and a game plan.

 

[Vetchonian]

I know this is off topic, but can anyone tell me when I get to be a named player? Is it 500 posts? And do I get a say in who that is? I would love to be Tony Millington. Or Wilf Milne.

The whisper is you will be Zan Vipotnik

 

[DJack]

Get the spine right and others will look better. Franco was a different player with O’Bfien next to him. Galbraith looks tidy albeit anonymous today. Widell looks at the moment like a Charlie Patino. Nice player but lightweight. Inoussa looks good but as I said, central midfield was a priority above wide players for me. And we don’t have a striker.

This bit is where I'm at. But it is a maraton and not a sprint so i'm a little hopeful (deluded? )

 

[DJack]

The whisper is you will be Zan Vipotnik

Ooof!